Rocks, pebbles and sand

A philosophy professor stood before his class
and had some items in front of him.
When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty
mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with
rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was
full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles
and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas
between the rocks. The students laughed

He asked his students again if the jar was full?
They agreed that yes, it was.
The professor then picked up a box of sand and
poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled
up everything else.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize
that this is your life. The rocks are the important
things - your family, your partner, your health,
your children - anything that is so important to you
that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.

The pebbles are the other things in life that matter,
but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things
like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.
If you put the sand or the pebbles into
the jar first, there is no room for the rocks.
The same goes for your life. If you spend all your
energy and time on the small stuff, material things,
you will never have room for the things that are
truly most important.

Pay attention to the things that are critical in
your life. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing.

There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."